by Karen M. Leet
The question tickled my thoughts. Itched at the edges of my awareness. Poked and prodded at my doubts, worries, fears.
Why am I here? In this moment. In this place. In this work. Why?
I wondered. Did anyone else ask those questions? Did anyone else have doubts or fears? Did anyone else wonder if he or she was in the right place?
Did anyone else wonder about the path taken? The purposes within the job? The rules and regulations?
My job – it’s more than just a job.
I can’t speak for others. For anyone else. Ever. Anywhere.
But for me. I guess I have to admit.
This work I do. It’s not just a job.
How to explain?
Yeah, it’s a job. It’s work. I go to a desk. I have projects and purposes. I hold down a job. Just like everyone else.
Everyone has a job of some kind. That’s the way things go. We all work. Do a job. Get paid. Pay the bills. There it is. Pretty much what we all do.
But for me – for my job. It’s more than that. More than a job. More than a paycheck. More than a daily routine, more than a same old same old, more than “just a job.”
It’s bigger. Better. Deeper.
Don’t laugh. OK? Don’t think it’s a joke.
My job is more than “just a job.”
To me at least. It’s got a deeper meaning. A stronger purpose.
The work I do – it matters. It matters to me and to others.
I’m a compliance worker. A professional in the compliance field. And it matters – my job matters. To me first of all. I’m a person of integrity, honesty, caring. I believe in following the rules, obeying laws, doing what’s right.
It’s who I am. Who I have always been. Who I will always be.
And for my work, it’s not just me following the rules, doing the right things, being honest and fair.
It’s me being there for others. Helping others obey the rules, make right choices, be honest and fair, be a decent person.
Life is not always fair. Sometimes people lie. Or cheat. Or break the law. Cut corners. Make bad choices.
That behavior can harm others. Many others. A business that cheats can cause harm. A business that cuts corners can cause danger and trouble. A business that makes wrong choices can cause bad trouble.
So, here I am. A compliance professional. And my job – my profession – my calling – it is all aimed at making our company, our leaders, our decision makers, our suppliers, our customers – everyone involved – honest.
That is who I am. Why I’m here. What I care about. What I do.
I am a compliance professional. I care. It’s who I am. It’s what I do. It’s what I care about.
© 2024 K. Leet
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These are stories (usually fictional, but not always), based on insights and experiences from the world of compliance & ethics.
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